Aia Leu-Allin, a fine artist with a love for oil and watercolour painting, has called the mountains near Kenmare, County Kerry, home since 1989. Aia received her early training in figure sketching in Vevey, Switzerland, and she has a familial connection to the Swiss artist Eva Aeppli, her paternal grandmother.
Aia’s paintings strive to capture the spirit of the landscape, blending reality with imagination. Her work often features not only the natural beauty of her surroundings but also whimsical elements like imaginary animals, symbols, and artifacts. This mix creates a unique and engaging world in her art.
In 2020, she completed a five-year project for an award-winning tarot deck, resulting in over 78 paintings. A member of Visual Artists Ireland, Aia’s works are available by appointment at her studio, through her website, and at the Kenmare Courtyard Gallery, a co-operative open daily in the heart of Kenmare.
Awards and Nominations–
2021 2nd Runner-up, Best Tarot Deck, Thoth Journey:The Oracle of Change, CARTA ITF Awards.
Selected Solo Exhibitions-
2014 Spirits, Ancient Rituals Tattoo & Art Gallery, Killarney, Ireland.
2012 Rockpools: Precious as Gold, Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare, Ireland.
2006 Cottages, Deenagh Lodge, Killarney, Ireland.
2005 Kerry Landscapes, Deenagh Lodge, Killarney, Ireland.
2004 Doras, Deenagh Lodge, Killarney, Ireland.
2002 Kerry Landscapes, Mulcahy’s Restaurant, Kenmare, Ireland.
Selected Group Exhibitions–
2024 Kenmare Windows Arts Exhibition, Kenmare, Ireland.
2024 Poets meet Painters, Kenmare Arts Festival.
2024 A Wave of Change, New Wave Wild Project auction. Siamsa Tire, Tralee, Ireland.
2023 On exhibit, Kenmare Courtyard Gallery.
2023 Poets meet Painters, Kenmare Arts Festival.
2023 Kenmare Windows Arts Exhibition, Kenmare, Ireland.
2023 Artist Eye Exhibition, Great Southern, Killarney, Ireland.
2022 HUSH HUSH Scariff Library, Mountshannon, Co. Clare.
2022 Kenmare Windows Arts Exhibition, Kenmare, Ireland.
2021 Lost & Found, International Online Exhibition, Vacant Museum.
2021 Kenmare Windows, Kenmare, Ireland.
2021 5 Women Artists, online group show, TheIon3Gallery.
2021 Leu Art Family: Caresser La Peau du Ciel, Museum Tinguely, Basel, Switzerland.
2019 The Museum of Weed, Weedmaps VICE, Los Angeles, USA.
2018 The Wren Gallery, Kenmare, Ireland.
2018 Art Leu Family, Caresser La Peau Du Ciel, le lieu unique, Nantes, France.
2017 Group Show, Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare, Ireland.
2016 Mirador Art Gallery, Ozora Festival, Hungary.
2015 Art Leu Family: Caresser La Peau du Ciel, Museum CIMA, Ste Croix, Switzerland.
2015 Mirador Art Gallery, Ozora Festival, Hungary.
2015 K-Fest Gallery 9, Killorglin, Ireland.
2014 Pint Size Paintings, Mansfield Art Center, Ohio, United States.
2014 Mirador Art Gallery, Ozora Festival, Hungary.
2014 The Gathering: An Exhibition of Works by Kerry Artists, Tech Amergin, Waterville.
2013 The Gathering: An Exhibition of Works by Kerry Artists, The Copper House Gallery, Dublin.
2013 The Gathering: An Exhibition of Works, Dept of Art and Heritage, Killarney, Ireland.
2012 3rd Eye Art Gallery, Boom Festival, Portugal.
2011 Beara Arts, Group Show, Mill Cove Gallery, Co. Cork.
2010 Body Language, Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare, Ireland.
2009 June ‘Fresh Art’ Group Show, Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare.
2002 May Kenmare Arts Festival, Bluestone Gallery, Kenmare, Ireland.
1999 Kenmare Art Gallery, Bridge St. Kenmare, Ireland.
Publications
2023 Artist Eye on Kerry
2023 Thoth Journey: An Oracle for Change. Aquarius edition. Seedpress.
2021 Diary, Earth Pathways, Derbyshire, UK.
2020 Thoth Journey: The Oracle of Change, publisher: Seedpress, ISBN 9780955110993
2018 HEY! Modern Art & Pop Culture, No 3 Season 2, June 2018. (illustrations Aia Leu)
2017 Berber Tattooing, publisher: Seedpress, 2017 ISBN 9780955110955
2013 The Swiss Review, article in the Regional Edition GB 3/13 June 2013
2013 The Gathering 2013, Copper House Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.
2012 The Art of The Leu Family, Seedpress, ISBN 9780955110924.
1989 Skin Shows, publisher, Virgin Books, ISBN 0863692729 (illustrations Aia Leu)
1988 Ailleurs Arrive, poetry, Terry Chaisin. publisher: A. Groux. (Illustrations Aia Leu)
